Effective Land Administration: A Panacea To Tackling Nigeria’s Communal Crises

By Abu Usman Nigeria, with its ethnic groups and varying practices, has faced numerous crises over the years. These conflicts often stem from land disputes which are exacerbated by factors such as growth, urbanisation, farming and grazing practices, and political interests. Decades-long conflicts in communities across the country have seen protracted clashes particularly between Nigerian […]

By Abu Usman

Nigeria, with its ethnic groups and varying practices, has faced numerous crises over the years. These conflicts often stem from land disputes which are exacerbated by factors such as growth, urbanisation, farming and grazing practices, and political interests.

Decades-long conflicts in communities across the country have seen protracted clashes particularly between Nigerian farmers and pastoralists or herders which have at different times resulted in threatening local peace, and blamed for the spate of insecurity in the farming communities.

Just recently, some restive Nigerians stormed the streets from August 1, 2024 in an agitation that spanned ten days where protesting Nigerians sought to draw the attention of the government to the rising costs of living, noting particularly, the aggravated prices of foodstuffs resulting in untold hardship in the country.

Although the economic policies of President Bola Tinubu, particularly, the removal of fuel subsidy and floating of the Nigeria’s currency – naira, are blamed for the worsening living standard, the shortfalls in meeting local food demands as a result of reduced food production from conflicts in farming communities, especially in states with vast agricultural potential have been largely responsible for food insecurity.

Not just that, communities have been on daggers-drawn over land ownership and boundary matters with many attributing their limited economic opportunities to the shortage or outright non access to land either for farming, developmental projects or in other cases, treasures that are preserved underneath as solid minerals.

So, land bear peculiarities and come with varied values depending on the interest, location, stakeholders and the opportunities or potentials associated with such land. This is why globally; land is priced as property with appreciable values as it appreciates with time unlike many other assets.

Considering these, effective land administration can play a crucial role in addressing these conflicts by providing a framework for equitable land use and management.

Land administration basically refers to the processes through which land is managed, and this includes the allocation, registration, and use of land. It encompasses policies and systems that govern land ownership, use rights, and management. An effective land administration system facilitates clear land tenure, reduces disputes, and promotes sustainable land use.

In Nigeria, the land tenure system is complex and often unclear, leading to overlapping claims and disputes. As such many disputes surrounding land ownership are traced to lack of a unified land policy which have been fingered for conflicts between pastoralists and farmers, especially in regions where land is highly coveted.

Nigeria’s cultural and ethnic diversity with it rich tapestry of cultures and ethnicities can lead to misunderstandings and competition over land use, particularly in rural areas where communal land practices are prevalent. This was largely experienced among the farmers and herders where a section of the people consider land as a free passage for grazing purpose where the crops producing farmers believe that their land have specific purpose of noninterference by livestock farmers and resulting damages that often bring when cattle graze on cultivated land.

Undoubtedly, population pressure from rapid urbanisation and growth have continued to intensify the demand for land and this leading to competition and conflict over available resources. This explained that even when it can annex land for overriding public interest, even the government has the discretionary and even obligatory responsibility to compensate landowners whenever the need for public infrastructure interferes in private property.

As parts of the measures to mitigate the unintended consequences and promote harmonious coexistence to guarantee safety, enhance productivity in growing food and facilitate needed development, effective land administration is advocated.

In achieving this, there is a need to establish clear land rights. A well-defined land administration system can provide clarity on land ownership and usage rights. Initiatives such as land registration and titling can reduce disputes by ensuring that landowners have legal recognition of their claims.

Having understood the essence of maintaining peace for communal harmony, government at all levels, in partnership with the traditional institution, farmers, youths, professionals in the build and estate management sector; together with other stakeholders should engender workable template for promoting conflict resolution by formulating mechanisms that accommodate the interests and rights of every user.

An effective land administration framework can facilitate conflict resolution by providing mechanisms for mediation and arbitration involving the local communities that can be engaged in conflict resolution efforts with specific for respect cultural practices while promoting legal processes.

Through proper land management practices, such as zoning laws and environmental regulations, land administration can promote sustainable land use. This can help decrease competition between farmers and herders by encouraging designated areas for farming and grazing.

Since effective land administration also pose a good potential in aiding government income generation from revenue collection from land-related transactions. These funds can similarly be redirected to community development projects that alleviate poverty and reduce tensions.

Involving local communities in land management decisions fosters ownership and cooperation, making it less likely for disputes to arise. Participatory governance models can empower communities and ensure that their needs and customs are respected.

However, corruption and inefficiency within land agencies can hinder the effectiveness of land administration. As such, there is a need for transparency and accountability to build public trust.

Political leaders must also prioritise land issues to implement comprehensive reforms bearing inadequate infrastructure in many regions in Nigeria. So, it is imperative on the government to evolve a technological mapping and data system for land to be effectively administered.

It is also to prepare that laudable innovations that clash or seemingly has the potential to change some tradition could face cultural resistance as traditional practices regarding land ownership may resist formalisation, leading to conflicts over new systems of governance.

The communal crises in Nigeria are multifaceted, but effective land administration presents a viable solution. By establishing clear land rights, promoting sustainable practices, engaging communities, and facilitating conflict resolution, Nigeria can take significant steps toward mitigating land-related conflicts.

Collaborative efforts among government agencies, local communities, and civil society organisations are crucial for developing an equitable and effective land administration system that recognises the diverse needs of Nigeria’s population.

In this light, addressing the root causes of land conflicts with an organised framework can pave the way for a more peaceful and prosperous Nigeria.

Esv. Abu Usman, an Estate Surveyor and member of NIESV is based in Abuja and can be reached via [email protected]